Category: Life

Quarantine Date Ideas That You’ll Actually Want to Do

Published on by thesmartyfemmeLeave a comment

Being at home doesn’t have to mean boring dates!

~5-10 min read

If you’re single read this.

Think about how life was before the quarantine. (I know, it’s been a while!) Didn’t you look forward to date nights where you did fun things together with your SO or spouse? After being in quarantine together with my husband for the past month, I realized that it’s time to make our own date nights at home!

If you live with your spouse, you’re now seeing them all the time, 24/7. You probably feel that you spend more time together, but how much of that time is true quality time? 

If you’re dating, it gets more challenging to spend quality time with each other. You might not be in the same place together, and I’m sure you quickly realize that FaceTime can only do so much. 

TSF TIP:

Take Turns Surprising Each Other with Date Nights

Pick two dates in the month to set aside for date nights. The first date will be a date that you plan, and the second date will be a date that your spouse plans. 

It’s a win-win situation: you can get excited planning a date and you can look forward to the date your spouse or SO is planning! 

When we were dating, my now-husband would send me hints throughout the week before our date, and I would try so hard to guess what the date was going to be. You can also incorporate this by dropping hints throughout the week before a date. A bit of mystery is always fun!

Below are quarantine date ideas that you’ll actually want to do. You can do most of them virtually, too!

1. Have a couples’ spa night 

Approx. length of time: 45 mins – 1.5 hours

Person lying down and relaxing while having cucumbers over her eyes

After a long week, it’s time for some R&R. I recommend lighting a few candles and playing a relaxing playlist (think chill jazz) to set the mood. If you change into plush bathrobes, you’ll feel the “spa vibe” in no time!

Select your favorite face mask to use. I love this mud mask since it really helps detox your skin and this moisturizing mask since it makes your face feel like baby skin. Feel free to take a few photos together to commemorate your date night.

If you’d like, you can give each other massages with massage oil to truly make it a spa experience. You’ll definitely feel super relaxed after this date!

2. Dress up & have an elegant dinner

Approx. length of time: 1.5 – 2 hours 

If you miss going out to restaurants, have an elegant dinner at home. You can either cook your meal yourself (here are a few ideas) or order from a local restaurant (if they are open). Properly set up the dining table with your fancy silverware that you haven’t used since last year.

To create the ambience, feel free to to dress up like you’re going to eat at an actual restaurant. Lose those sweatpants and wear a nice outfit! After the dinner, head over to your living room couch to watch a movie. Props to you if you make your own DIY popcorn. A classic dinner and movie date never disappoints.

3. Recreate popular TikToks

Approx. length of time: 30 mins – 1 hour

Devote an hour or two of your Friday night to recreate popular TikToks and do some TikTok challenges. It may not be something that you’re normally used to do (or, it’s 100% something you’re totally into), but it gets the two of you off the couch!

After you download the app, try searching the following to let your creative juices flow:

  • Flip the Switch Challenge
  • Q&A Couples Challenge
  • You Can Really Dance Challenge
  • The Finger Challenge

4. Eating s’mores inside a cozy makeshift fort

Approx. length of time: 30 mins – 1 hour

holding up smore's over a campfire

This is a childhood classic that never gets old! I used to love doing this when I was younger. I had pretend tea time (cups filled with apple juice) in the fort with my stuffed animals (perks of being an only child).

Grab your large, cozy blanket and throw it over a couple of chairs to make a fort. You can add blankets and pillows to make the space inside the fort more comfortable. You don’t need a campfire to make s’mores – here’s an easy sheet pan s’mores recipe that you can do.

5. Write handwritten notes to each other

Approx. length of time: 20 – 30 mins 

fountain pen over a handwritten letter with purple flowers

If you live together, you can write cute sayings on Post-It notes and hide them throughout the house! I recommend putting them in places that you know the other person will easily find. It’s a sweet gesture that’ll bring a smile on the other person’s face. 

If you don’t live together, you can write handwritten notes to each other and mail them to each other. There’s definitely something special about receiving a handwritten note. It doesn’t take too much time to write a note, but is more meaningful than sending a text. Bonus points if you use cursive! 

When we were dating, my husband and I would send each other postcards while we were traveling, whether for vacation or work. We both enjoyed receiving postcards in the mail. I must admit, some postcards actually came after we arrived back from our trip! 

Hope you can incorporate these ideas for your next quarantine date night! Let me know in the comments which ones you’ll be trying.

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Instant Vacations You Can Take Right Now to Transport Your Mind Somewhere Else

Published on by thesmartyfemme5 Comments

With TSF commentary, of course…

~5-10 min read

I need a vacation. And so do you.

We’ve been sitting in our house for way too long. This morning, I was wondering what other “vacations” I can take from the convenience of my house. The “vacations” I’ve been taking are usually one of these options: me relaxing on my couch, me relaxing in the dining table chair, me relaxing in the lounge chair in the corner of my room, and me relaxing in bed. Needless to say, it’s not much of a vacation.

But, how about we channel our minds to think somewhere far, far away, in a distant land. Imagine your kind of paradise. Where would that be and what would it look like?

Would that be in a cozy beach cottage, steps away from the ocean, or up in the mountains, amongst the pine trees? It could even be the daily vacations, where we step away from our house and work in a cafe. Ah, the wonders of our lives without a pandemic!

Let’s take a look at some photos to transport your mind to an instant vacation, followed by The Smarty Femme commentary.

Below are links to transport yourself in the location of your choice:

The Beach – Sand and Shore

The Mountains – Hiking and Views

Coffee Shop – Coffee and People

The Snow – Ski and Cold Bliss

The City – Exploration and Living

The Beach – Sand & Shore

TSF commentary: Sand between your toes. The sun rays are shining bright, but not too bright to make it unbearable. The gentle roar of the ocean passes by. The cool water hits your toes and a smile forms in your face. You spot a cute hermit crab crawling by and you give it a name. You crack open an ice-cold sparkling water and throw your head back laughing at a joke your friend said. 

The Mountains – Hiking & Views

TSF commentary: You tell yourself, “You’re almost there.” Only a few more steps till you can reach the best views. The oxygen levels in the air feel thinner, but it might be because your legs are on the verge of giving out. You have been on this hike for the past couple of hours, but you’re keeping your mindset over matter. You finally reach the top. The view is jaw-dropping and it takes your breath away. You amazingly forget the pain you’ve just endured for the past few hours. You sit on a nearby rock and take a photo. You wonder whether you should take a selfie but you’re glistening with sweat, so maybe another time.

Coffee Shop – Coffee & People

TSF commentary: The smell of coffee hits your nostrils with delight. People are chatting with their friends, but the calming, soft-rock music drowns out their voices. You grab your steaming latte with oat milk and open your laptop to start “working.” You work for an hour and notice an old friend you haven’t seen since college. You end up talking for hours and get dinner afterwards and fall in love and get married. Just kidding, that only happens in movies. The reality is that you both awkwardly say hi, think about whether to give each other a hug, how are you, how is work, have you seen so-and-so, etc. After the small talk passes, you continue typing away, working on your never-ending project.

The Snow – Ski & Cold Bliss

TSF commentary: Brrrr it’s cold. Your cheeks are frozen and your nose is turning slightly pink. Strangely enough, the rest of your body feels that it’s overheating from the three layers of clothing you’re wearing. The snow around you looks like fresh powder (to make DIY snow, click here), and you can’t wait to make snow angels and drink hot chocolate later. You get off from the ski lift and you take your first push. It’s been a while, but your body somehow remembers exactly what to do. Ahhh, you forget how much you missed it! Another skier whizzes past you. For a moment, you think that you’d want to race him, but you realize that everyone is on different paths in life. You’re full of bliss being in your own lane, forming your own path. You’re doing you, you smarty femme. 

The City – Exploration & Living

TSF commentary: All the cars seem to have Uber or Lyft stickers. People are dressed either in athleisure or in suits, no in-between. They walk twice as fast as you are. You look to your right and the upscale taco joint looks packed. It is happy hour, after all. To your left, you see small, artsy boutiques closing their shops for the day. Quickly entering a tech shop, you study the latest gadget they have – a language translation device that costs $599. The price tag gives you a mild headache. You’re now craving for some ice cream since it’s such a pleasant day outside. You get in line and realize they have the craziest combinations – blood orange apple pie and smoked salmon chocolate chip? You take your first lick of the ice cream and joyfully devour the rest. You can totally see yourself living here in the city. Let’s move here already! 

Have a nice vacation, you smarty femme! Let me know in the comments which vacation above would be your ideal vacation.

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Celebrating Easter as an Adult

Published on by thesmartyfemmeLeave a comment

More than just the Easter Bunny…

~3-5 mins read

Long gone are the days of the Easter Bunny, dyeing Easter eggs, and Easter egg scavenger hunts. I mean, you’re a full-on adult now! When I was growing up, I’d wake up on Easter Sunday to chalk-drawn bunny prints in the pavement leading to my house and saying “hello” to the Easter Bunny who delivered my Easter basket! 

But Easter festivities don’t have to end with childhood memories. We can create new memories and traditions that make it meaningful for us and the people in our lives.

We may be in a period of quarantine right now, but let’s have some cheer and celebrate Easter! Below are some ways to celebrate Easter, quarantine-style:

  1. Discover a new Easter recipe. I’ve always looked forward to celebrating Easter together with friends and family. While this year might not be spent with the usual crew, cooking up something you absolutely love can help kindle the Easter spirit.
  2. It’s tempting to be in sweats 24/7 since we’re inside all day. But there comes a time when you just need to change out of them and wear that dress of yours in the closet. Why not make Easter Sunday that day? My go-to Easter outfit is anything floral or pastel, and 100% cozy.
  3. Treat yourself to your favorite Easter candy. My childhood favorites are: Cadbury mini eggs, pastel Hershey’s kisses, and my favorite – the chocolate bunny, of course. If you do get the chocolate bunny, you’ll have to make the difficult decision of which bunny ear to eat off first!
  4. Have you discovered the true meaning of Easter? If you haven’t, then make it your mission to find out how Easter started. Here are a few articles to help you get started: This and This.
  5. If you’ve never attended church before, then you can try it out at the comfort of your own home. Here are several options: Epic Church (multiple services throughout the day), IEC (11 AM PST), and Venture Christian Church (9:30 & 11:15 AM).
  6. Give this post a “like,” and let me know in the comments how you’re celebrating Easter!

Have an amazing Easter Sunday, you smarty femme!

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